Question

I'm having twins -- when should I stop working?

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I'm only nine weeks pregnant with twins, but I need to start planning for my maternity leave. With my first child, I was able to work until my delivery with no problems. I read that when expecting twins, working becomes almost impossible after 26 or 28 weeks. Does anyone have any experience with this?

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I'm 14 weeks pregnant with twins. My doctor advised i will work approx from 21-28 weeks since my placenta is near the cervix(placenta previa).i was told it can be detected more at 21 weeks since it has time to move.possible inducing at 36 weeks if i can go that far.I had a gastric bypass previously and has lost 14 lbs since being pregnant.im concerned . has anyone ever been through this and came out ok.

Like everybody is basically saying, it depends on your situation. I'm 31 weeks pregnant with twin girls and am a waitress. it's very hard and tiring to run around on my feet for so long each day but I'm doing it cause I can't afford to leave yet. if you can, I would recommend taking your maternity leave by 30 weeks. you should try to enjoy the little rest you can get before the babies come.

"I am 27 weeks w/ twins. I just stopped all of my obligations. Don't risk anything, your job now is to keep those babies in you as long as you can. How devastating a feeling if something were to happen and you have to say "I should have...".

I am 19 weeks pregnant with twins. It is my doctor's policy that women pregnant with twins need to stop working around 28 - 30 weeks. I have to admit, I am really looking forward to the rest! I know that as soon as they are born, I will not have a quiet moment to myself for a very long time!
Good luck to all of you!

I had three singletons before my twins, so I was used to working up to the very end. But I started maternity leave two months before the twins due date. I felt absolutely decadent! But once I was home, I couldn't believe how exhausted I was - and how grateful I was to not be at work. My twins were born 5 days short of their due date (39 1/2 weeks), and weighed 7lbs, 14oz, and 7lbs, 7 oz. I'm sure staying home contritbuted to my success. Remember "gestate" is a VERB. It is hard work to do the hidden job of creating twins.
But as with all things, such decisions are a blend of theory and practical situations. If money or job security is a big issue for you, working longer may just be a necessity you need to deal with.

This is something that would vary from person to person - my doctors never said anything about leaving work early during my twin pregnancy... until I started having regular contractions at 21 weeks. At that point they suddenly said no more work. I countered with "what if I can work from home?" and they said okay. My family set me up on the sofa with a cordless keyboard and I was able to continue working with my feet up until the day before my scheduled c-section at 37w2d. See if there is some way to cut back or work from home - you may be able to make something work out. Although I was never on official bedrest, this forced me to take it easy, helped pass the time and brought in a paycheck for a little longer! Of course, growing healthy babies should be your primary concern. The effort you put into this before they're born will be a big help later. Good luck!

Like you, I worked up until the day I had my (now 3 year old) daughter, and I was on my feet all day long. I dont remember it even being a problem! I am now pregnant (31 weeks) with twins and I have a sit down job. My doctor has told me that since my pregnancy has gone so well up until this point he is not going to put any restrictions on my activities, but I know that I dont have but MAYBE 3 more good weeks of work left in me! It has gotten hard mainly because I am so tired. Its hard to concentrate when you can't keep your eyes open! Anyway, I can tell you firsthand that twin pregnancies are completely different than singletons. Its much more demanding in the end of the pregnancy, and you are in that incredibly uncomfortable stage for longer than you would with just one. Dont get me wrong, its great, and I wouldn't change it for the world. However, its much harder with two than one! anyway, if you can wait until the end of your pregnancy to make the decision... do so. Its hard to predict what kind of pregnancy you will have with two, and how you will be feeling at the end of it. Its definitely a good idea to put aside some time to rest before the babies come if thats at all possible. I also recommend you read up on the topic. the book that has been a lifesaver for me is "what to expect with twins, triplets, and quads". It helps you develop a plan of action for your pregnancy and helps you to not feel so helpless in the whole deal. There is a lot you can do to prevent some of the problems that can arise. I wish you the best of luck!

It really depends on how you feel and what you can do and handle at this moment. Is your job stressful or easy going? Is there long periods of standing or walking? Do you sit all day or is there lifting and walking involved. For me, I sit all day and am on the computer at work. If I was still at my last daycare job, I would have been on bed rest running around chasing two year olds. I have been through 3 pregnancies and worked all the way until the last 3 weeks and with this twin boy/girl pregnancy at 28 weeks I will continue to work at all the way until my Doctor says.

I had to quit at 28 weeks because my cervix was shortening. It just depends on how your pregnancy progresses. If you're not having any problems, you should work as long as you can, but if you do develop any problems, err on the cautious side. I wish I had - maybe my twins would have been born a bit later.

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